Chapter 4

Vivian yanked open the curtain in front of us. Blinding lights instantly illuminated us.

That's when I realized—we'd been bound in some kind of club, with guests packed in below.

"Honored guests!"

Vivian announced into a microphone,

"Tonight's grand finale—the Sullivan sisters!"

She roughly tore open my ruined wedding dress, exposing my scarred skin:

The crowd below erupted in jeering laughter and wolf whistles.

Several men wearing gold chains rushed onto the stage first.

I twisted desperately. The chains scraped my wrists raw and bloody.

"Don't touch my sister!"

I screamed hoarsely, but a yellow-toothed man grabbed my chin.

"Scream! The louder the better!"

His foul-smelling saliva sprayed on my face as his fingers traced my collarbone.

My sister suddenly spoke coldly:

"Every inch of skin you touch will become evidence for the Sullivan family to hunt you down."

Just then, my phone rang.

Vivian snatched it and triumphantly hit speakerphone.

Ethan's anxious voice immediately came through:

"Riley! If you dare touch a hair on Vivian's head, I'll never forgive you!"

Hearing Ethan defend Vivian on the phone, my heart felt drenched in ice water.

This was the man I'd loved with all my heart for three years.

The Sullivan family paid for his education, helped build his career. He trampled our sincerity underfoot.

In the end, I meant less to him than a stranger.

All these years of the Sullivan family's support—we'd raised a white-eyed wolf.

I bit down hard. Blood and tears flowed into my mouth.

Fine. Perfect.

Since he showed no loyalty, don't blame me for showing none either.

From today on, Riley Sullivan and Ethan—it's war to the death.

"Honey, where are you?"

Vivian asked eagerly into the phone.

Before she could gloat, Ethan's terrified voice came through:

"Wait! Why do you have Riley's phone?"

"I caught her and taught her a lesson!"

Vivian said righteously.

"Are you insane?!"

Ethan's voice cracked,

"She's the second daughter of the Sullivan family! Are you trying to destroy me? Let her go right now!"

Hearing this, Vivian got angry. She shouted into the phone:

"I don't care about any Sullivan second daughter! You're the most powerful person to me. Who could be more capable than you? Today I'm teaching her a lesson no matter what!"

Furious, she hung up and smashed the phone on the floor.

She pulled out a bucket from under the table.

As Vivian unscrewed the lid, she rambled on:

"Men cheat—it's normal. Once you're dead, Ethan will settle down. We can go back to how things were before."

The pungent smell of gasoline instantly filled the air. I shouted in terror:

"Vivian, you're insane! Murder is a capital crime!"

"Capital crime?"

"Ethan has plenty of money. He'll clean this up for me. In New York, the Cross family IS the law!"

Watching gasoline pour down over us, I forced down my fear and softened my voice:

"Vivian, let me and my sister go. We'll pretend today never happened. I'll break up with Ethan immediately and never bother you again."

But Vivian wouldn't listen. She pulled out a lighter, her face twisted with a maniacal smile:

"Women's mouths are full of lies! I'll only believe it when I watch you die with my own eyes."

The lighter in her hand flicked open with a sharp click, sparking a flame. Just as the flame was about to fall, the club doors crashed open!

Through the billowing smoke, my father's thunderous roar shook the entire venue:

"I'd like to see who dares touch my daughters!"